![\"Brittney](\"https:\/\/www2.baylor.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/griner-mercury-apr13.jpg\" "\\"griner-mercury-apr13\\"")
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As expected, Brittney Griner was selected with the first overall pick in Monday’s 2013 WNBA Draft<\/a> by the Phoenix Mercury — the first Baylor player ever selected first overall in any major league draft. Teammate Brooklyn Pope was also drafted in the third round by the Chicago Sky; the pair were the eighth and ninth Lady Bears selected in WNBA draft history.<\/p>\n The Mercury rolled out all the stops after selecting Griner Monday night, introducing “the Griner Pack<\/a>” of tickets, launching a special section of their website<\/a> dedicated to the Baylor senior, unveiling a 77-foot banner in downtown Phoenix, and even “renaming” a street near their arena “Griner Street<\/a>.” (You can also already order a “Griner 42” Mercury jersey<\/a>.)<\/p>\n But while signing as the top overall pick may seem the obvious choice, Griner could face an interesting decision: Should she go to the WNBA, where she’s predicted for stardom, or take a chance on a potential once-in-a-generation opportunity?<\/p>\n As you may have heard — even World News Tonight with Diane Sawyer<\/a><\/em> picked up on the story — Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has made headlines for suggesting that his team would consider taking Griner in this summer’s NBA draft<\/a>. She wouldn’t be the first woman to get a shot with an NBA team — in 1977, the Utah Jazz drafted Delta State’s Lusia Harris<\/a> before the NCAA even recognized women’s basketball — but it’s enough of a\u00a0rarity\u00a0that Cuban’s comments sparked all sorts of speculation.<\/p>\n Women’s basketball pioneer Nancy Lieberman said\u00a0Griner should go for it<\/a>;\u00a0UConn coach Geno Auriemma, on the other hand, called it “absolutely ludicrous<\/a>” to think Griner could make it in the NBA.\u00a0Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitski and coach Rick Carlisle each weighed in<\/a>; Nowitski said it would be “tough” for her to make it, but Carlisle called her “a hell of a player.” And\u00a0NBA.com columnist Fran Blinebury noted that Griner wouldn’t be the most unusual draft pick in NBA history<\/a>.<\/p>\n